University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Seton Hall
No. 4 Carolina Opens With 8-3 Win Over Seton Hall
February 17, 2006 | Baseball
Feb. 17, 2006
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Sophomores Reid Fronk and Benji Johnson each drove in a career-best three runs, and junior right-hander Robert Woodard allowed just one run over six innings to lead No. 4 North Carolina past Seton Hall, 8-3, on opening day Friday at Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels (1-0) have now won their last 10 meetings with the Pirates (1-3) and their last nine season openers.
Fronk, who was 2-for-4, reached base three times and plated three runs with a fourth inning double, while Johnson was 2-for-4 on the day and hit a three-run homer in the seventh. First baseman Chad Flack and left fielder Jay Cox also tacked on two hits each for the Tar Heels, who are now 8-0 in season openers under Mike Fox.
Woodard (1-0) won his 12th straight decision dating to 2004 and improved 10-0 in his career at home. He scattered five hits and two walks over six innings, while fanning three. Four relievers combined to work the final three innings for Carolina.
Shortstop Josh Horton and Flack came through with back-to-back run-scoring singles in the third to give the Tar Heels an early two-run cushion. Second baseman Bryan Steed started the rally with a leadoff double, and Fronk was hit by a pitch before Horton singled through the right side to drive in Steed. Flack followed with a single to right center to plate Fronk.
After the Pirates cut the lead in half on a Brandon Cohen RBI double in the fourth, Fronk put three more runs on the board for Carolina with the bases-clearing double to left center. Johnson singled, and right fielder Matt Spencer and center fielder Mike Cavasinni followed with walks to load the bases for Fronk, who set a new career-high in RBI with one swing of the bat.
Seton Hall pushed a run across in the top of the seventh on a sacrifice fly off the bat of center fielder Dan Lopez, but Carolina responded with three more in the bottom of the inning courtesy of Johnson's first-pitch, three-run shot off the scoreboard. The Pittsboro native's fourth career homer scored Flack, who doubled and designated hitter Matt Iannetta, who was hit by a pitch.
Dan Merklinger (0-1) took the loss for Seton Hall after allowing five earned runs on eight hits and four walks in five innings. He struck out three.
Designated hitter Dan McDonald and catcher Matt Skopak led Seton Hall with two hits apiece. McDonald had an RBI triple in the ninth for plate the Pirates' final run of the day.
The series continues at 1 p.m. Saturday with Daniel Bard on the mound for the Tar Heels and concludes at 1:30 p.m. Sunday with Luke Putkonen making his first career start.
